College of Education Child Development Division http://education.illinois.edu/edpsy/edpsy/frp/singletn

Faculty Research Profiles: Jenny Singleton

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Associate Professor

Child Development Division
Educational Psychology
230A Education Building
1310 S. 6th St. MC 708
Champaign, IL 61820USA

Affiliate

Special Education
business217 244-1098
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Research Biography

My current program of research focuses on deaf children's language development, both American Sign Language and English, especially within the school context. Teachers often become the primary linguistic model for deaf preschool aged children. In one of my current projects, I am investigating the ways that deaf teachers support deaf children's identity and language development through visual means. This project is funded through the NSF Science of Learning Centers program (VL2: Visual Language and Visual Learning, Gallaudet University). Other recent projects include: technologies for ASL and English literacy development; development of ASL proficiency assessments; English written language assessment for school aged deaf children; Atypical Sign Acquisition. I have a continuing program of service and outreach, focusing on breast cancer awareness in the Deaf community, hearing children of deaf adults, and UIUC campus accessibility for students, faculty, and staff with disabilities. I am also a Commissioner on the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission.

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1989
  • M.A., Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1987
  • B.A., Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1983

Key Professional Appointments

  • Associate Professor, Educational Psychology, University of Illinois, 2000--
  • Acting Chairperson, Educational Psychology, University of Illinois, 2006-2006
  • Associate Chairperson , Educational Psychology, University of Illinois, 1999-2001
  • Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology, University of Illinois, 1993-1999
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology, University of llinois, 1991-1993
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Education, University of Chicago, 1989-1991

Activities & Honors

  • Legislative Task Force, Communication Options Task Force, 2007-2008
  • Commissioner, Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, 2003- present
  • Editorial Board Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 2002-2006
  • Arnold O. Beckman Award, for Research Project of Special Distinction, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2000-2001
  • Honorable Mention for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1999-2001
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, College of Education, 1997

Grants

  • Principal Investigator, The Socialization of Visual Engagement for Bilingual Language Acquisition in Early Childhood Deaf Education, National Science Foundation (Gallaudet University), 2006
  • Principal Investigator, An Interactive Tool for Enhancing Teacher's Understanding of Metalinguistic Awareness, PT3 TALENT: Technology Across Learning Environments for New Teachers, 2002

Selected Publications

  • Singleton, J. L., & Morgan, D. D. (2006). Natural signed language acquisition within the social context of the classroom. In B. Schick, M. Marschark, & P. Spencer (Eds.), Advances in the sign language development of deaf and hard-of-hearing children (pp. 344-373). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Singleton, J. L., & Newport, E. L. (2004). When learners surpass their models: The acquisition of American Sign Language from inconsistent input. Cognitive Psychology, 49(4), 370-407
  • Singleton, J. L., & Supalla, S. (2003). Assessing children's proficiency of natural signed languages. In M. Marschark & P. Spencer (Eds.), Oxford handbook of deaf studies, language, and education (pp. 289-302). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Singleton, J. L., & Tittle, M. D. (2000). Deaf parents and their hearing children. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 5(3), 221-236.
  • Maller, S. J., Singleton, J. L., Supalla, S., & Wix, T. (1999). The development and psychometric properties of the American Sign Language Proficiency Assessment. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 4 (4), 249-269.

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